Employee ownership is at its best when everyone has a voice. And at EV, we love when we get a chance to hear directly from EVers.

At this year’s Employee Ownership Summit, EVers from across our companies (except our newest business, Whitney Brothers) came together to share ideas, learn from each other, and strengthen the connections that make us unique.

In this episode, Chris Fredericks sits down with Ian Kovach from Firstar Precision, Tim Barnett from Benoure Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning, Erica Roudebush from TVF, and Tom Bawkey from Paramount Plastics. They share how the Summit reinforced the power of employee ownership and why having a seat at the table makes all the difference.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. Why learning from other companies matters: EVers gain fresh ideas by seeing how different teams approach ownership, engagement, and company culture.
2. The power of storytelling: Learn why sharing experiences helps create a stronger culture and inspires growth across all EV companies.
3. The value of having a voice: Find out how open discussions and collaboration at the summit reinforced the importance of every employee owner’s perspective.
4. Giving back as a team: Listen to how a meaningful team-building activity made a lasting impression and highlighted EV’s commitment to community involvement.

Jump into the conversation:
(00:00 ) Introduction to Ian Kovach, Tim Barnett, Erica Roudebush & Tom Bawkey
(02:56 ) Inside the Employee Ownership Summit
(06:22 ) Team-building and the impact of giving back at the Summit
(13:00 ) Best practices from other employee-owned companies
(21:29 ) Personal growth, connection, and the power of shared purpose